| Menopause is an important event in the aging | | | | heart disease than Western women. |
| process for all women. This physical transition | | | | The research on the effectiveness of |
| from the reproductive years to non-reproductive | | | | phytoestrogens is inconclusive, and it is unclear |
| years is clinically defined as having had no | | | | whether the estrogens found in these foods are |
| menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The | | | | strong enough to relieve menopausal symptoms. |
| average age of menopause in the United States is | | | | However, some women find that supplementing |
| 51, but it can be affected by such factors as | | | | their diets with these foods helps to alleviate or |
| smoking, alcohol use, having irregular cycles in the | | | | reduce their hot flashes. The research is still |
| decade prior to menopause (all associated with | | | | ongoing as to whether phytoestrogens affect the |
| earlier age at menopause), and mother's age at | | | | risk of breast cancer-some studies actually show |
| menopause. | | | | phytoestrogens to be protective against breast |
| While some women never experience | | | | cancer, and no studies suggest that eating soy |
| anydiscomfort during menopause, the majority of | | | | products are harmful if you have breast cancer. |
| women do. Hot flashes are the most common | | | | However, women who are at an increased risk |
| complaint, occurring in 70 percent to 85 percent | | | | for diseases affected by hormones or women |
| of women. Night sweats are also common, and | | | | who are taking drugs that increase estrogen |
| can be especially troubling for some women. Night | | | | levels in the body should check with their physician |
| sweats can occur several times each night and | | | | before using phytoestrogens. |
| frequently cause interrupted sleep, leading to | | | | Vitamin E |
| fatigue, irritability, and mood disturbances. Other | | | | While there is little research yet to prove its |
| signs of menopause include heart palpitations, | | | | effectiveness, some women find relief from hot |
| urinary symptoms such as incontinence or | | | | flashes by taking Vitamin E. Vitamin E is known |
| frequent urinary tract infections, vaginal dryness, | | | | for its antioxidant effect, and is available in several |
| low libido, headaches, anxiety, and poor memory | | | | forms, both natural and synthetic. Natural Vitamin |
| or "fuzzy" thinking. | | | | E is signified by the letter d, for |
| While menopause is a natural part of aging, many | | | | d-alpha-tocopherol. Synthetic Vitamin E has |
| women who suffer from severe or prolonged | | | | antioxidant activity, but may actually prevent the |
| symptoms seek help. Today, that help can come | | | | natural form from entering the cell membranes. |
| from many directions, including conventional, | | | | Synthetic Vitamin E is signified by the letters dl, |
| complementary, or alternative medicine. | | | | for dl-alpha-tocopherol. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble |
| Conventional medicine is practiced by medical | | | | vitamin, which means that excess is stored in the |
| doctors (M.D.s) or doctors of osteopathy (D.O.s), | | | | body. Consequently, taking more than 400 i.u. of |
| and affiliated health care professionals, such as | | | | Vitamin E a day is not recommended. |
| nurses, physical therapists, and dietitians. | | | | Botanicals |
| Complementary medicine is used along with | | | | Several herbs are being studied for effectiveness |
| conventional medicine, and may include a diverse | | | | in relief of menopausal symptoms. Black cohosh is |
| group of medical and health care systems, | | | | perhaps the most commonly used herb for |
| practices, and products such as acupuncture, | | | | treating women's symptoms. For generations, |
| herbs, lifestyle changes, or dietary supplements. | | | | Native Americans have called black cohosh "cramp |
| Alternative medicine is used instead of | | | | bark" and used it for treating menstrual cramps. |
| conventional medicine. Some practitioners of | | | | Black cohosh is a key herb in the practice of |
| conventional medicine also use complementary or | | | | Chinese medicine, and is used extensively in |
| alternative methods. | | | | Europe and the United States for relief of hot |
| Conventional Treatment--Hormone Replacement | | | | flashes. Due to its low risk for side effects, the |
| Therapy | | | | American Menopause Society supports black |
| The main conventional treatment for menopausal | | | | cohosh for short-term use (less than six months). |
| symptoms for several decades has been | | | | However, the National Institutes of Health has said |
| hormone replacement therapy (HRT). | | | | that, although early evidence is encouraging, there |
| Replacement hormones are available by | | | | is not enough data to recommend black cohosh |
| prescription and include estrogen alone or in | | | | for menopausal symptoms. The NIH's National |
| combination with another hormone, progestin. | | | | Center for Complementary and Alternative |
| Using hormone therapy is very effective for | | | | Medicine is funding a scientific study to determine |
| women who are having severe symptoms or | | | | whether black cohosh can effectively reduce the |
| symptoms that have lasted a long time, especially | | | | frequency and intensity of hot flashes and other |
| hot flashes and night sweats. In addition, hormone | | | | menopausal symptoms. |
| therapy protects against osteoporosis, a | | | | Dong quai is also a frequently prescribed herb in |
| bone-thinning disease that occurs with age. | | | | Chinese medicine, especially to treat a variety of |
| Osteoporosis is more prevalent in women as they | | | | women's problems such as menstrual cramps, |
| age than in men, and can be responsible for bone | | | | irregular periods, and heavy periods. In addition, |
| fractures, especially of the hip and back. | | | | dong quai is found in almost every Chinese herbal |
| For decades, women with uncomfortable | | | | formula used to provide relief from menopausal |
| menopause symptoms were routinely prescribed | | | | symptoms. Other herbs used for menopause |
| hormone therapy by their physicians. However, in | | | | include red clover, ginseng, kava, and chaste |
| 2002, a large study, the Women's Health Initiative, | | | | berry. |
| was ended early because the researchers | | | | Acupuncture |
| discovered increased risk for a number of serious | | | | Practiced in China for thousands of years, |
| health problems in women who had been taking | | | | acupuncture is becoming popular in this country |
| hormones for several years. The researchers | | | | for a variety of conditions, including discomforts |
| found greater risk for breast cancer, heart | | | | associated with menopause. Acupuncture is holistic |
| disease, stroke, and blood clots for women in the | | | | in nature, and works by treating the source of |
| study who had been taking a combination of | | | | the problem rather than just alleviating symptoms. |
| estrogen and progestin, and a heightened risk of | | | | Acupuncture can be effective in treating hot |
| stroke and blood clots for study subjects who | | | | flashes, night sweats, palpitations, insomnia, and |
| were taking estrogen alone. | | | | other symptoms of menopause. In addition to |
| As a result, hormone therapy is now cautiously | | | | acupuncture, a licensed acupuncturist may also |
| prescribed on a case-by-case basis, taking into | | | | incorporate dietary recommendations, an herbal |
| account each woman's risk factors for breast | | | | formula, and lifestyle changes into an individualized |
| cancer and heart disease. In addition, doctors are | | | | treatment plan. |
| advised to prescribe the lowest dose possible for | | | | Lifestyle Changes |
| the shortest time possible. For many women, the | | | | Some women find they can alleviate or reduce |
| symptoms are not uncomfortable enough, or their | | | | menopause discomforts through lifestyle changes, |
| risk factors are such that they choose not to | | | | such as diet, exercise, and stress management. |
| take hormones. Consequently, many women and | | | | Most women find that their hot flashes are worse |
| their health care providers are exploring | | | | when they are in stressful situations, and |
| complementary or alternative options that may | | | | stress-reduction techniques like yoga, meditation, |
| help alleviate the discomforts associated with | | | | visualization or breathing techniques can be helpful. |
| menopause. | | | | Dietary changes that may be effective include |
| Phytoestrogens | | | | avoiding caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and fatty foods, |
| Soy is perhaps the best-know phytoestrogen, or | | | | eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking |
| estrogen that is found naturally in food. Soy, | | | | more water. Regular exercise is also |
| chickpeas and other legumes are a source of | | | | recommended because it can elevate mood, |
| isoflavones, one kind of phytoestrogen. Flaxseed, | | | | reduce stress, and reduce the risk of developing |
| whole grain foods, and some fruits and vegetables | | | | osteoporosis and heart disease. |
| are the source of lignans, also a plant form of | | | | While there are a variety of options for women |
| estrogen. | | | | seeking relief from discomforts associated with |
| Isoflavones came to the attention of scientists | | | | menopause, there is no one clear answer as to |
| studying the diets of women in China and Japan. | | | | what works best. Every woman needs to take |
| They found that the Asian women they were | | | | into account her unique health history and personal |
| studying had diets high in soy isoflavones and | | | | preferences when choosing a conventional, |
| reported fewer and less severe symptoms | | | | complementary or alternative treatment for |
| associated with menopause. In addition, the Asian | | | | menopause symptoms. |
| women had a lower incidence of osteoporosis and | | | | |